Rajinikanth-Lokesh Kanagaraj's 'Coolie' sees 20% surge in just 2 days for USA premiere shows, hits USD 700K mark
's much-anticipated action entertainer Coolie, directed by
, is already setting the North American box office ablaze well ahead of its release. With still 14 days to go before its grand premiere on August 14, Coolie has witnessed a sharp 20% jump in its advance bookings in just two days, a clear indication of the frenzy surrounding this mass action spectacle.
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As of the latest update, Coolie has raked in an impressive $665,478 from 1,000 premiere shows selling more than 24000 tickets. . The total North America advance booking figure now stands at $700K ( Rs 6.13 crore) , a significant climb from the $557,700 mark it stood at just 48 hours ago. The pace of this rise highlights the film's strong pull among diaspora audiences and positions Coolie for one of the biggest premieres for an Indian film in North America this year.
The numbers are expected to soar even further with Canadian markets opening bookings recently, and early trends suggest a superb response there too. The Rajinikanth–Lokesh Kanagaraj combo, fresh off the success of Jailer and Leo respectively, seems to have hit gold again with Coolie an action-packed multi starrer boasting a stellar cast. Jailer had a premiere day collection of USD 948K while Leo had minted USD 1.5 million .
Apart from Rajinikanth, the film features powerhouse performers like Nagarjuna,
,
, Upendra, Sathyaraj, and
, further fuelling the hype. The casting has attracted a pan-Indian audience,
Adding to the excitement is the big box office clash Coolie will face on August 14, when it releases alongside YRF's War 2—another mammoth project starring
,
, and
, directed by Ayan Mukerji. While War 2 is yet to open its advance bookings, it has already secured over 1,100 premiere shows, indicating an intense showdown at the global box office.
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For now, though, it's Coolie that's leading the charge. With two more weeks to go and the current pace of sales, trade experts anticipate the film might comfortably cross $1 million in premiere advance bookings—a milestone achieved by only a handful of Indian films in North America.
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Economic Times
28 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Coolie trailer drops with a bang: Rajinikanth leads star-studded action spectacle with Aamir Khan, Nagarjuna and vintage swag
Agencies Rajinikanth's Coolie trailer has ignited excitement with its action, punchlines, and vintage Rajini style. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Sun Pictures, the film features Aamir Khan and Nagarjuna. Rajinikanth plays Deva, a retired gold smuggler, in this action entertainer slated for release on August 14, promising intense action and nostalgia. Superstar Rajinikanth is back, and he's not alone. The much-awaited trailer of Coolie dropped at a glitzy audio launch in Chennai, setting off a storm of excitement across the internet. With punchlines, high-octane action, and a vintage Rajini flair, the film is already being hailed as the biggest action entertainer of the year. Slated for release on August 14, just ahead of Independence Day, Coolie is helmed by celebrated director Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Sun Pictures. It brings together a mega ensemble of A-listers including Aamir Khan, Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, and Upendra. In the trailer, Rajinikanth is resurrecting the larger-than-life persona that fans have missed. He plays Deva, a retired gold smuggler attempting to reclaim his lost clout using mysterious technology hidden in vintage gold watches. The slick visuals and explosive action sequences hint at a plot steeped in revenge, redemption, and rebellion. Film journalist and fans alike couldn't miss the 80s Rajini-style punchlines and charisma. From slow-motion shots to intense face-offs, the trailer is crafted to evoke nostalgia while pushing the action meter through the roof. Aamir Khan, who rarely steps into multi-starrers, plays Dahaa, a pivotal character in the gold-smuggling world. His appearance at the audio launch only added to the fanfare. Alongside him, Nagarjuna brings his signature gravitas, while Pooja Hegde, Upendra, and Soubin Shahir round out the cast, promising a pan-Indian cinematic experience. In an unexpected twist, Coolie has received an A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), marking Lokesh Kanagaraj's first film with this rating. Unlike typical Rajini films, which lean towards family-friendly mass appeal, Coolie promises gritty realism, intense violence, and raw emotion. — sunpictures (@sunpictures) This bold move signals a shift in Rajinikanth's screen image, aligning with Kanagaraj's trademark storytelling that doesn't shy away from darker themes. The film clocks in at 2 hours and 48 minutes and is expected to go head-to-head at the box office with War 2 , featuring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR. Anirudh Ravichander, who last collaborated with Rajini on Jailer , returns with another fiery soundtrack. Songs like Chikitu and Monica have already become viral hits, racking up millions of views on YouTube. The background score in the trailer alone has been lauded for intensifying the drama and enhancing Rajini's on-screen magnetism.
India Today
28 minutes ago
- India Today
Kollywood's first 1,000 crore loading: Internet reacts to Rajinikanth's Coolie trailer
Fans are buzzing with excitement regarding the highly anticipated film 'Coolie' after its trailer release. Featuring Superstar Rajinikanth, 'Coolie' is one of the biggest releases of the year. The trailer for the film has only added to the hype around the film. Several social media users have predicted that the action thriller could become Kollywood's first 1,000 of the social media users hailed the flashback portion in the trailer. "And now, it's finally confirmed Kollywood's first Rs 1000 crore. Flashback portion in 'Coolie' (sic)," read the comment. Another user said, "First 1000 crore for Kollywood is on cards (sic)". The film's gripping storyline and Rajinikanth's magnetic presence have raised expectations for its box office how social media users reacted to 'Coolie' trailer: Fans were equally excited in the comment section of the trailer on YouTube. Take a look:The much-awaited trailer was released at a grand audio launch event at Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. The event was star-studded, featuring appearances by several notable personalities, including Bollywood actor Aamir Khan.'Coolie' follows Deva (played by Rajinikanth), a former gold smuggler. He aims to recover his past recognition by reviving his old gang. He does so with stolen technology hidden in vintage golden watches, a unique plot point that adds intrigue to the by Lokesh Kanagraj, the film is produced under the banner of Sun Pictures. The film boasts music by Anirudh Ravichander, who previously collaborated with Rajinikanth on the 2023 film 'Jailer', among other projects. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has given 'Coolie' an A certificate. This is Rajinikanth's A-rated film in over three decades. The film is set to clash with YRF's 'War 2', starring Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, and Kiara Advani, at the theatres on August 14.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Rajinikanth#Aamir Khan
Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Goofy and gritty, how Divya Deshmukh became India's golden girl
A long-lost clip of a Divya Deshmukh interview from seven years ago was excavated and made popular again by YouTube's algorithm over the last few days. 'This 12-year-old is the future of Indian women's chess' declares the video's headline like a soothsayer gone glassy-eyed staring into a crystal ball. In the video, Deshmukh is interviewed by ChessBase India, where she is asked if she has won any world championships yet. With the hint of a smile, Deshmukh starts rattling off her titles. A World and Asian Champion in the under-10 and under-12 age groups. National champion in under-7, under-9, and under-11. Occasionally while listing her achievements, she pauses, as if giving her mind time to catch its breath. 'That's enough, I think,' she says. The 12-year-old is then asked about her fighting skills on the chessboard, how she is not afraid of any opponent and told that if it's a high-stakes game, she inevitably ends up winning it. 'That may be true,' she says. Throughout a heady July, Deshmukh, now 19, summoned those fighting skills and faced off against veritable giants of the sport — World No 6 Zhu Jiner, veteran grandmaster Harika Dronavalli, former women's world champion Tan Zhongyi and, finally, Indian chess' original woman prodigy, Koneru Humpy — on her way to winning the FIDE Women's World Cup title. This, despite starting the event as only the 15th-best-rated player in the field. In winning the World Cup, she also became India's fourth woman to become a grandmaster. 'I think the younger me knew what she was talking about,' Deshmukh told FIDE, the international chess governing body, in an interview after winning the World Cup title when reminded about the interview from seven years ago. 'If you ask me that question today (about her fighting skills and how she is not afraid of any opponent), I would probably repeat my answer,' she said. That seven-year-old prophecy announced by the clickbaity headline of a YouTube video came true in Georgia, a country that has produced some of the world's earliest trailblazers of women's chess, like Nona Gaprindashvili and Maia Chiburdanidze. 'My turn,' she wrote on Instagram in a caption of a photo posing with the trophy. A post shared by Divya Deshmukh (@divyachess) In the last 13 months, the girl from Nagpur has become a world junior champion, helped the Indian women's team win the Chess Olympiad gold medal and now finally claimed a World Cup gold, while also becoming a grandmaster. What was remarkable about Deshmukh becoming a grandmaster was that, unlike the 87 Indians before her, she earned the title in a single tournament. In fact, before the World Cup started, Deshmukh hadn't earned any of the three norms a player needs to become a grandmaster. She came to Batumi hoping to collect one norm. 'My goals changed today,' she said in the FIDE interview. 'Time to find new goals.' In the past, some grandmasters have earned their three norms in the span of months fuelled by a hot streak of form. Others have laboured for years to collect the norms. By winning the title, she bypassed that conventional route entirely. Deshmukh rarely does conventional. For example, she does not shirk away from playing in mixed tournaments — events where there are male and female players on the same battlefield. This year itself, she's played in two such tournaments — Tata Steel Challengers at Wijk aan Zee and Prague Challengers. Other women players occasionally play in a mixed event, but it's rare. At Wijk aan Zee at the start of the year, Deshmukh was accompanied by three more women in the field, including Vaishali. There, Deshmukh beat a strong male GM from Turkey, Ediz Gurel (rated 2624 at the time while Deshmukh was 2490). At Prague, she was the only woman in the 10-player field where she beat a grandmaster (Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis). Both events were humbling experiences for her: she lost eight out of 13 games at Wijk and had five defeats in nine games at Prague. 'These tournaments, all the struggles and being beaten left to right, I think that has definitely helped me to become what I am,' she said before adding: 'Playing in these events, there's a lot less pressure. I enjoy those tournaments more. They help me realise what my weaknesses are. When you play against opponents that are considerably stronger than you, you learn so much.' Women's chess is ruled by a ruthless, give-no-quarter ethos. That's why, unlike male players, you almost never see two women players sit and discuss the game to pick their opponent's mind once the match ends. Handshakes before games are actually just two sets of fingers making bare-minimum contact with the coiled tension of boxers touching gloves before a prizefight. There's no eye contact between opponents whatsoever. In this mix enters the endearingly goofy Deshmukh. And stands out. She'll apologise to the inanimate objects like the chess pieces and the match clock after accidentally knocking them over. She'll occasionally flash a wide smile at the camera even if there are just seconds left before the start of a crucial game, which is usually that time when the players are in their meditative zones, their faces as poker-faced as the wooden pieces on the board they're about to command into battle. Deshmukh is — there is no better word to describe it — chill, in a sport where many players can come across as deathly serious, impassive, restrained and bashful. She's so quick-witted and has such charisma in interviews that she's among those rare athletes who can be — and has been — asked about her fashion sense at chess games besides being asked borderline silly questions about why she brought a banana with her to every single game at the FIDE World Cup and never once took a bite of it. Her bubbly, extroverted personality is the perfect foil for the assassin that she is on the chessboard. Talk to anyone in the sport who has known her, and they will praise her aggression on the board. 'If you look at the approach she played with Humpy, it was so aggressive. She tried to dominate Humpy in a way,' pointed out Kushager Krishnater, who despite being in Team Humpy as a second (an aide) since 2022, could not help but marvel at Deshmukh's ambition. 'If you look at Game 1 and Game 2 of the World Cup final, Divya was the one who was pressing in very slow positions even when there was no chance of a result. Even in the first game of the tie-break (after the two classical games ended in draws), she did that. You don't do it against somebody who is stronger than you! A player does this when they think that their opponent is weaker than you. If you look at Divya's reaction after the first classical game against Humpy ended in a draw, she was visibly a bit angry with herself. That is not something you fake. So to believe that you are better than one of the best chess players in the world and that you could try and dominate her goes on to show how confident she is and how much ambition she has.' Here's just a little slice of what transpired in the final between Deshmukh and Humpy. There was a moment when five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand was on commentary and in the middle game, he said that a draw was coming. Then, when both players continued extending the game, trying to squeeze water out of stone, Anand got a little irritated, remarking: 'For some reason instead of repeating (the moves and ending the game as a draw) they keep changing. Why is Divya changing moves? Just repeat! I don't know what they want. Do they really believe they can do something here, because I don't even see how to play for a win if you want to.' Before the final, Anand had explained to The Indian Express how Deshmukh 'leaned towards playing aggressive chess'. Coach RB Ramesh, who has shaped the careers of players like Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali and also trained Deshmukh in her formative years, told The Indian Express: 'Divya is the most confident girl from the lot. As a young girl too she didn't have that negative side to her: the one that tends to create self-doubt. That inner chatter that wrecks things, fortunately, was missing in her.' Grandmaster Abhijit Kunte, who has worked extensively with Deshmukh, added: 'It never looked as if she's playing the finals or semi-finals or quarter-finals for the first time. She always showed that she was eager to win the match.' Kunte was the captain of the Indian women's team at the Chess Olympiad last year where they claimed the first-ever team gold in the most prestigious team event in the sport. Deshmukh claimed an individual gold too. Kunte said that before the tournament began, he had told the teenager that since she was in great form, she would have to play in all 11 rounds for India, while others were being substituted. Deshmukh agreed without a moment's pause. 'She has very strong psychology. Many players, when they're under pressure, they break. Some players don't convert their advantage. But she's not like that. When she's under pressure, she will make sure that she defends very tenuously,' Kunte said. 'At the same time, when she feels she is better, she will keep the advantage with her. She's very clever that way when she's playing chess.' In an interview with The Indian Express in 2023 after winning the title at the Tata Steel Chess India's rapid tournament in Kolkata, Deshmukh had mentioned that while she is inspired by many players like Humpy and Anand, she doesn't really have any 'role models'. She also admitted that she wasn't certain she wanted to pursue chess full-time and that she was 'still exploring' if she wanted to focus full-time on chess or on further studies. 'What stood out about Divya was her ability to strike a balance between academics and chess,' Anju Bhutani, former principal and current academic co-ordinator with the management at Bhavan's Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir where Deshmukh studied told The Indian Express. 'Even while competing in tournaments, she never neglected her studies. She did well in her exams, submitted her assignments on time, and always remained grounded despite winning big titles. Each time she returned after a win, she would quietly come and stand outside my cabin with her trophy. She didn't speak much, but she would come in, give a quick hug and click a picture together.' Now, as chess seems to have taken over, Deshmukh said she admires the current world no 1 from China Hou Yifan, who has won the women's world championship multiple times. Why? Because Hou won everything there was on offer in chess, then branched out into academics, earning a master's degree at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar and then started working at Shenzhen University. While most grandmasters from India her age like world champion Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa started focussing solely on chess from a very early age, Deshmukh still harbours hope that one day the world of academics will open a portal into a different universe for her. Since the pandemic, the tectonic plates under chess have shifted as the sport has experienced tremors of an Indian earthquake. On the men's side, world champion Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi are flagbearers of this golden generation, a trio capable of beating the world's best. With Gukesh already winning the world championship, there is hope that his opponent next year could be an Indian as well. On the women's side, this India vs India battle for the top prize — a true indicator of dominance in a sport — has already come true when Humpy played Deshmukh at the World Cup. The sight of two Indian women fighting for the title, while two Chinese players fought for the third place spot could be a turn-of-the-page moment for women's chess, which has so far been dominated by players from Russia and China. At the forefront of this is the 19-year-old once proclaimed the 'future of Indian chess'. That future is here. As Deshmukh wrote in her two-word mission statement on Instagram, it's now her turn. (With inputs from Ankita Deshkar) Amit Kamath is Assistant Editor at The Indian Express and is based in Mumbai. ... Read More
